Yarmolenko completes Hammers move

West Ham have signed Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko from Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old forward has agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club.

Yarmolenko's transfer to the London Stadium continues the recruitment drive of new Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini, which includes the arrival of Jack Wilshere.

"Of course, I am very happy to sign for West Ham United. West Ham is a big club with good fans and I am happy to come to play in the Premier League,"Yarmolenko told the club website.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world and I know that an interesting project is being built here at West Ham.

"The team wants to achieve high things and I am excited for this challenge."

A four-time Ukrainian footballer of the year, Yarmolenko has scored 35 times in 77 games for his country and played at the European Championship in both 2012 and 2016.

He moved to Dortmund last summer - having spent the majority of his career playing in his homeland for Dynamo Kiev - and scored three times in 18 Bundesliga appearances.

The tall attacker is the fifth new face in east London this summer after the Hammers on Monday completed a deal for former Arsenal midfielder Wilshere having already brought in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and defenders Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks.

West Ham director of football Mario Husillos believes Yarmolenko is approaching the best years of his career.

"When we had the opportunity to sign him, we did not hesitate, because he really is the kind of player that we were looking for," said Husillos.

"He is a left-footed player but can play on the right and is very quick, very good one-on-one against a defender. He gives the team a lot of attacking options and scores goals, is fast on the counter-attack and provides aerial threat with his height.

"I believe he is joining us in the perfect moment. He is 28, the prime age for football, and we have great expectation about what he can achieve with West Ham United."

Yarmolenko passed his Hammers medical during the club's pre-season tour of Switzerland and will join his new team-mates on Thursday.

This article originated on sportinastorm.com

The Wire

13:36 Widnes Vikings have gone into administration and been deducted 12 points.⌁

12:55 Milan Skriniar, linked with move to Man United, says he is "close" to signing new Inter Milan deal.⌁

12:51 Arsenal have been drawn to play Rennes in Europa League last 16 while Chelsea take on Dynamo Kiev.⌁

12:16 Eddie Howe believes injury problems this season have been "devastating" for Bournemouth.⌁